I’m a planner. So when packing for a year of international service, I stuck with what I knew: Plan for every possibility.
Dragging nearly 150 pounds of luggage through Heathrow Airport was one of the most miserable experiences I’ve ever had as a traveler.
Discovering how much I could live without became an important part of this formative year in my Christian faith. In relying on my own efforts to plan ahead and prepare for everything, I’d forgotten to fully trust in God’s provision.
Each passing month of service taught me new lessons about God’s faithful provision. Living simply helped me focus on the meaning of accompaniment and being fully present in the community where I served. Scaling down my possessions allowed me to follow Jesus more closely that year. It continues to influence my intentional efforts to live simply to this day.
This is an excerpt of a Women of the ELCA blog by Vanessa Young. To read more about carrying excess baggage, see this month’s issue of Cafe.
Be comforted, challenged, inspired, consoled and confronted. Sign up for Daily Grace. If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.